VIDEO: Distracted Driver Jumps Rising Drawbridge In Palm Beach

ABOVE VIDEO:The video shows that Montano hit the drawbridge at just the right time for him not to get too much air and land safely. (Frog4System Video via WPTV)

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA – Police in Palm Beach say a man suspected to have been fiddling with his GPS device while driving across a drawbridge could have been killed.

Security camera footage of the incident shows 29-year-old James Montano drive his SUV straight through a traffic barrier. He then catches some air after he drives off of the bridge as it is raised and screeches to a halt when he lands back on the road.

Police say Montano and his passenger are lucky to have escaped the incident without any injuries.

“The implications of what could have happened, had he hit at a different time, or he hit the ramp and went over the side. You’re talking about a potentially fatal accident.” Officer Philip Salm told WPTV.

The video shows that Montano hit the drawbridge at just the right time for him not to get too much air and land safely.

The bridge was closed for five hours Saturday as officials repaired the damaged traffic barrier.
Montano was cited for reckless driving.